The Montgomery County Public Schools will be participating in the National Day of Remembrance by observing an event coinciding with statewide activities on Friday, September 14. The school system's observance involves a live videotape message from the superintendent, a five-minute period of silence, the listening to the ringing of bells throughout the county, and the viewing of a live telecast of an interfaith prayer vigil service.

All schools and offices will be observing a five-minute National Period of Silence beginning at 12:00 Noon, which will be followed by the ringing of bells from houses of worship and government buildings in Montgomery County and throughout Maryland.

Just prior to the period of silence, all schools and offices will be viewing a telecast of a message to all students and staff from Dr. Jerry D. Weast, superintendent of schools. The telecast will begin at about 11:58 a.m. on cable Channel 34.

An Interfaith Community Prayer Service, sponsored by the Montgomery County Government and the Community Ministries of Montgomery County, will be telecast live on Channel 34 to all schools and offices. The vigil begins at 12:00 Noon and includes the period of silence and the ringing of the bells. The event will take place in the Court House Square Park in Rockville. It is scheduled to end at 1:00 p.m. Schools and offices have been asked to use as much of this viewing time as possible for quiet reflection on what is being said by county government and religious leaders about the national tragedies of this week.

The National Day of Prayer and Remembrance was declared by President Bush for Friday, September 14. In response, Maryland Governor Glendening has declared that the state will observe the five-minute National Period of Silence beginning at 12:00 Noon, followed by the ringing of bells throughout the state for one minute. The Governor has asked for everyone's participation in this observance wherever they are at that time. The Montgomery County government, school system, religious community, and other community and parent organization leaders are responding to this request.